Induction-valve.



N0. 623L883. Patented Sept. 3, I90l,

C. W. KERSTETER.

INDUCTION VALVE.

(Application filed Jun. 28, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 68!,883. Patented Sept. 3, I901. C. W. KERSTETER.

INDUCTION VALVE.

(Application filed Tm 25B, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0 2%: M- I W7 ,JW alt/74 No. 68|,883. Patented Sept. 3, I901.

C. W. KEBSTETER.

INDUCTION VALVE.

Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W {5 22 68 s e 3 Jizven i or: mh/ CflmZelW miezzr '1 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. KERSTETER, or AKRON, OHIO.

INDUCTION-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,883, datedSeptember 3, 1901.

Application filed January 28,1901- Serial No. 45,075. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, CHARLES W. KERSTET ER,a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county ofSummit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Induction-Valves, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has a general relation to improvements in valves adapted tobe used in automatic sprinkling systems for the protection of theinteriors of buildings and their contents from fire, and has specialrelation to that class in which the system of pipes that extends throughthe building and is provided at intervals with sprinkling-jets closed byfastenings that are fusible at a determined degree of heat above thatordinarily prevailing is normally filled with atmospheric air underpressure and is connected with a pipe containing water under pressureheld from entering the pipe system by valves arranged to be held closedby the air-pressure and to automatically open upon a decrease of theair-pressure due to the opening of one or more of the sprinkling-jets.

The objects of my invention are to provide a valve less liable tointerruption from extraneous causes than those heretofore and now usedfor the purposes stated, and one which will be actuated by both fluidand spring pressure combined,or by eithersingly, so that a lack ofpressure in the water-main will not prevent the complete and effectiveoperation of the valve.

A further objectis to obtain greater security in the valve by means of apeculiar valveseat, and a final object is to so construct and arrangethe parts that each opening of the valve, whether by reason of a fire oraccident, will cause an alarm to be sounded at any determined place.

To the aforesaid objects my invention consists in the peculiar and novelconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and then specifically pointed out in the claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,forminga part of thisspecification.

' In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numeralsindicate like parts in the different views, Figure 1 is a centralsection of my improved valve and its acco1n 'ment of the device forsounding an alarm as soon as the valve is opened, and Fig. 4 asection atthe line X X of Fig. 1.

Referring to these figures, l is a hollow metallic case having a frontopening to reach the interiorclosed by a cover 2, secured by bolts orother approved mechanical means, an upper branch 8, having a flange forconnecting the pipe 55, leading to the system of pipes bearing thesprinklers, an oppositelydisposed branch 4, also flanged to connect itwith the water-supply pipe,and a back branch 5, perpendicular to theaxis of the branches 3 and 4, terminating in a cylindrical end 6 for apurpose to be stated. Above the central part of the case 1 is located acircular valveseat 7, arranged to be closed by a valve 8, having aguide-pin that runs in a spider 9 in the lower end of the branch 3.Extending across the valve-seat 7 and centrally thereof and preferablyintegral therewith is a bar 12, extending downward from each end to apoint slightly at the left of the center in straight lines. an annularvalve-seat 13, adapted to be closed by a valve 14, in which is centrallyscrewed a bolt having cars 15, to which is rigidly secured one end ofbar-link 16, having its opposite end pivotally mounted between ears on abolt 17, secured in the case 1. Between the ears 15 is pivotally mountedone end of a bar or link 18, which is bent at an angle above its centerand ends in a beveled face adapted to rest against the lower face of theright half of the bar 12. This link 18 is hinged at its angle betweencars 19 on the end of a hollow plunger 20, that slides in guide-rings 21in the cylindrical end 6 of the branch 5. Within the plunger 20 is ashaft 22, secured by being screwed into the left end thereof, and withits back end screw-threaded and running in a tubular nut 23, internallyscrew-threaded to receive it .and externally threaded with threads of anAt the top of the branch 4 is opposite and difierent pitch tofit inv ascrewihreaded opening in a cross-head 24 to constitute an adjustingdevice hereinafter described. The cross-head has at the top a horizontalarm 25, arranged when the crosshead is moved to the left to run aboveand close to the top of the cylindrical end 6 of ingin which is fittedan annular valve-seat 33; of pecnliarconstruction in that ithas a lowerannular channel 34 about it which in turn is surrounded by an annularintegral;

ring, th,e-,obj,e ct of which is to former receptaclefon any particlesof dirt or'dust that may enterthe valve-case to fall into, and tothereby prevent their lodging on the valveseat and interfering'withatight joint between: the valve: and seat. A verticallymovingvalve 35isarranged to fit on this seat, havinga guide-stem 36, that runs in agnide.37, andan openinginbolt 38, screwed intothe inner top of the-cap30. This valveohamber 29 is internally connected by means of the pipe 39with the pipe 55, and these twopipes-are here usedin thesedrawings torepresent a complete sprinkler system, as those: in. a building, andinFig; l are supposed to be closed and. under a pressure of air, and invFig. 2 a leak, opening, or other means for/the lowering of that.pressure is, presumed to have taken placeinthe system. Secured; between:ears 40 on. the under side of theas represented by the two'pipes.

valve35 isa vertically-moving latch 41, sliding'in guides 42' on theinner faces of theplates 28, the lower end of: which latch is.

straight at the right and beveled at the left and is adapted to enter,the notch 27 in thearm 25. The lower arm ofthe cross=head 24 hasanopening'to freely fit a guide-rod 43,

rigidly secured in a bracket 44, integral with. and depending fromthe-under face of the Secured on this guide-rod 43? is a branch 5.sliding collar45, having a horizontal finger-extendingto the leftandterminating in a'downwardhook 46 with an upwardly-beveled-face.T,-he-collar;-is constantly forced to the right by-a spring-47 on theguide-rod'43, thatabuts against the'bracket 44. On the lower end of thebracket-44 is pivoted an upward hook48, having its end similarly beveledand arranged to engage the hook 46 and constantly pressed u pward by aspring 49, interposed betweenits Connected opposite end'and. the branch5.

with the cylindricalend 6 of the branch 5' is a hollow shield: 50,inclosin g the back end of the. plunger- 20 and'cross-head24audits-connect.- edpa-rts when moved to the right, as in Fig.

2. The objects of this case are tov protect the parts from accidentaldisturbance after the apparatus shall be set and also to form a fulcrumfor a lever for setting them. This lever (shown in end elevation in Fig.4) has two parallel arms 51, located on opposite sides of the'plunger20, each mounted on pivots 52 and connected at their lower ends by ahandle 53. Projecting from each side of the collar 45 are pins 54,arranged to lie in the path of and be engaged by the lever-arms 51 asthey are rocked to the left, and these pins 54 are provided withfriction-rollers to render their operation easier.

The arrangement and operation of the ap paratns are as follows: of thevalverchamber 29 has a central open- 1 Before water under. pressure isintroduced Zin; the pipe connecting with the branchi4. or Qcompressedair into the branch 3 and pipe jsystem, as represented by pipes and 39,ithe parts being in the p'ositionshown: in Fig. 2, excepting that thevalve 8 rests on the seat 7, the lever 51 is rocked. by means of theghandle 53 to the left, which by means of the ipins 54 on the collar 45carries the collar to the left until the hook'on the collar. 45 en- Egages the hook onz-the latch 48 and is retained ;I there until releasedby the operator. cross-head then being free. from the influence of thespring 4.7 is manipulated easily into E the position shownin Fig. 11,thus closing the ivalve 14 and: bracing-it by the bentlink 18, grestingagainst the angle-bar 12, and at the same time the valve" 35 fallsuponits seat, permitting the latch 41; to enter the notch.27..Theplunger 20should be so adj ustedas'that when the valve l4risabsolutely tight the latch )41 rests in the notch 27, which adjustmentis i made by-pushingthe plunger f-romor drawing :it toward thecross-head 24. by the tubular nut 23. pipes 55 and 39, is then chargedwithairun- The The pipe system, as representedby der pressure andrthepipe connected withthe branch 4. filled with-water under pressure.

The. hooks 46 andf4'8 are. then disengaged by pressing up the left endof the latter, and as there will be a little play. between the collar 45and the-cross-headthe spring47 will move the collar a slight distance tothe right and prevent the rengagement of'the two hooks.

In operation the partsrremainxas indicated in Fig. 1-, so long-5 as theair-pressure-in the pipe system remains practically" the same. If,however, a fire occursin any room where IIO there is a jet-orsprinkling-head, so that snfficie'nt heat is developed to fuse thebinder on the sprinkler, the air will escapetherefrom, thereby reducing.thepressure in the pipe system. This, by reducing the pressure on thevalve 35, will'permit'thelatterto.riseand draw the latch 41, from thenotch 27 in the arm 25 ofthe cross-head 24, which will be at once forcedto the right by the combined'force of the spring 47 and thepressure onthe under face of: the valve 14,.and the. pressure thus obtainedraisingthat valve and'allowing the water to pass from: the branch 4 intothe chamber and out through the branch 3 to the pipe system.

It will be evident from the foregoing that it would not be absolutelyessential that the Water-pressure should exist in order to operate thevalve, as in case of its failure the spring alone would raise it andgive an alarm, as in the following manner.

In giving an alarm the device shown in Fig. 3 is employed, whichconsists of an opening 56, made in the side of the cylindrical end 6 ofthe branch 5, and an insulated contactfinger 57, extended through it tonormally press on the plunger 20 and make electrical connectiontherewith. A notch 58 is cut in the periphery of the plunger so adjustedthat when there is no decrease in air-pressure the contact-finger willrest in that notch without contact with the metal surrounding it. Thefinger 57 is connected with one pole of an electric bell by a wire 59,and the cylindrical end 6 is connected by a wire 60 with the other postand including in connection therewith a suitable battery. Hence wheneverthe plunger moves to the right beyond a determined limited space thecircuit will be closed and the bell will ring.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a valve of the class designated, thecombination with an inclosing case having a branch to receive waterunder pressure and a branch to connect with a sprinkler-pipe systemcontaining air under pressure of an outward opening valve to close saidsecond branch having a bar across its seat, and an inward opening valveto close said first branch connected with and-arranged to be opened bythe water-pressure, a rocking bar to hold said valve and rest againstthe cross-bar of the opposite seat, a plunger to hold said bar, a valveconnected with the sprinkling-pipe system and arranged to be heldagainst its seat by the air-pressure in said pipe system,

and to be released by a decrease of said pressure and a latch arrangedto be held by said last-mentioned valve to lock said plunger againstmovement and to release it by the rising of the valve, substantially asshown and described.

2. In a valve of the class designated, the combination with an inclosingcase having a branch to receive Water under pressure, and a branch toconnect with a sprinkling-pipe system having a valve-seat and valve witha bar across said seat, of a valve to close said first branch adapted tobe rocked inward and connected with a rocking bar to press against saidcross-bar and arranged to be opened by a spring-pressed plunger, aspring-pressed plunger to hold said cross-bar and first valve, a latchto hold said plunger against move ment to release said valve, a valveconnected with said latch and the pipe containing air under pressurearranged to be operated by the air-pressure to hold said latch in engagement with said plunger, and to release it by a decrease of saidpressure, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a valve of the class designated hav ing an inclosing case with abranch to receive water under pressure, and a branch to connect with asprinkling-pipe system containing air under pressure, and anoutward-opening valve to close said second branch and an inward openingvalve to close said first branch connected with and arranged to beoperated by a sliding plunger, and a latch to hold said plunger againstmovement, and a valve operated by the air-pressure to hold said latchand to release it by a decrease of said pressure, of a spring to movesaid plunger to open said inward-opening valve a lever to compress saidspring to permit said valve to be closed and a detachable catch to holdsaid spring and release it when desired.

4. In a valve of the class designated having an inclosing case with abranch to receive water under pressure and a branch to con nect with apipe-sprinkling system containing air under pressure and anoutward-opening valve to close said second branch, andan inward-openin gvalve to close said first branch connected with and arranged to beoperated bya sliding plunger and a latch to hold said plunger againstmovement and a valve operated by the air-pressure to hold said latch andto release it by a decrease of said pressure and a cross-head attachedto said plunger of adjusting devices consisting of a tubular nut meshingin said cross-head and surrounding a shaft mounted in said plunger andmeshing thereon with threads of an opposite inclination from those onthe outside of said nut to regulate the movement between theinward-opening valve and alatchoperating valve with reference to eachother, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. KERSTETER.

In presence of- C. E. HUMPHREY, O. P. HUMPHBEY.

